The Ford 50th Anniversary Show
“The Merman and Martin sequences from television's first special.”
Synopsis
The program was the first so-called "Television Spectacular". Ford presented the show without commercial interruption. It is believed to be the first time that Edward R. Murrow appeared on NBC in a professional capacity. Also, in 1953, it was necessary for Ford to buy time on two networks to ensure maximum coverage of US TV households - at the time, neither CBS nor NBC reached 100% of them. The famed 1953 television special celebrating the Ford Motor Company's 50th anniversary brought together two of the greatest leading ladies Broadway has ever known. The highlight of the program is Merman and Martin’s 13-minute duet medley, where they sing the songs that made them famous, plus much more. On their own, Merman sings “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” and “Mademoiselle from Armetières” and Martin performs a brilliantly comic routine about changes in fashion over the first half of the 20th century.
Top Cast
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Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jerome Robbins
- Screenplay & Story
- Howard Teichmann
- Original Title
- The Ford 50th Anniversary Show
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 0m
- Production Studios
- CBS Studios, NBC
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jerome Robbins
Howard Teichmann
Department Leadership Roster
Jerome Robbins
Director
Howard Teichmann
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
G: General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
International Certification Matrix
General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Ford 50th Anniversary Show.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Ford 50th Anniversary Show
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Ford 50th Anniversary Show about?
The program was the first so-called "Television Spectacular". Ford presented the show without commercial interruption. It is believed to be the first time that Edward R. Murrow appeared on NBC in a professional capacity. Also, in 1953, it was necessary for Ford to buy time on two networks to ensure maximum coverage of US TV households - at the time, neither CBS nor NBC reached 100% of them. The famed 1953 television special celebrating the Ford Motor Company's 50th anniversary brought together two of the greatest leading ladies Broadway has ever known. The highlight of the program is Merman and Martin’s 13-minute duet medley, where they sing the songs that made them famous, plus much more. On their own, Merman sings “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” and “Mademoiselle from Armetières” and Martin performs a brilliantly comic routine about changes in fashion over the first half of the 20th century.
Who directed The Ford 50th Anniversary Show?
The Ford 50th Anniversary Show was directed by Jerome Robbins.
Who stars in The Ford 50th Anniversary Show?
The principal cast of The Ford 50th Anniversary Show includes Mary Martin, Ethel Merman.
When was The Ford 50th Anniversary Show released and how long is it?
The Ford 50th Anniversary Show was released in 1953 with a total runtime of 2h 0m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Ford 50th Anniversary Show?
The Ford 50th Anniversary Show holds official age classifications: US: G (General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.).